Charles M. Hall

Charles M. Hall was an American scientist and inventor best known for discovering how to produce aluminum more efficiently and cheaply in 1886. His process, involving electrolytic reduction, revolutionized the aluminum industry by making the metal affordable and widely available, previously considered rare and expensive. Hall’s innovation, along with similar work by Paul Héroult in France, laid the groundwork for modern aluminum manufacturing, impacting industries from transportation to packaging. His contributions significantly advanced materials science and helped shape the modern economy by enabling the widespread use of aluminum.